MLB Network’s Jon Heyman (Facebook link) and Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports each interviewed Tim Lincecum in advance of his upcoming showcase on Friday. Heyman writes that once the date for Lincecum’s showcase was announced earlier this week, executives from 23 Major League clubs reached out to Lincecum’s representatives to get details on the event. Heyman spoke to both Lincecum and his father, Chris, and inquired about the lengthy delay from the original target date of late January to early May. “I wanted to feel right and feel confident in it,” said Lincecum to Heyman. “And that’s where I’m at right now.”
The two-time NL Cy Young winner explained to Passan that the uncertainty surrounding his hip prior to undergoing surgery was unfamiliar territory after he felt “invincible” on the mound earlier in his career. “Now I kind of have an idea of the tools I get to work with and how to stay within myself and at the same time be dynamic,” said Lincecum to Passan. “I want to be explosive with certain parts of the body and not be apprehensive. It has taken time to get there.” Passan outlines Lincecum’s current workout regime, and Lincecum makes it clear to the Yahoo scribe that he is set on joining a rotation at this time. Heyman, meanwhile, lists an extensive number of clubs that will attend the workout, including the Giants, Dodgers, A’s, Rangers, Cubs, White Sox, Padres, Orioles, Nationals and Marlins. Additionally, the Pirates will have talent evaluators in attendance for Lincecum’s showcase on Friday, Rob Biertempfel of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review tweets. And, notably, Heyman adds that the Yankees aren’t expected to be in attendance.
A few more notes on the free agent market…
- Left-hander Joe Beimel will audition for clubs this week as well after changing representation and hiring Frye McCann Sports, reports ESPN’s Jerry Crasnick (via Twitter). Though he just turned 39 years of age, the well-traveled southpaw has been a quality contributor to the Mariners in each of the past two seasons, turning in 92 1/3 innings of 3.12 ERA, although his 47-to-30 K/BB ratio and 4.84 FIP in that time paint a less favorable picture. That said, Beimel has held opposing lefties to a rather feeble .226/.281/.381 batting line in those two seasons, so clubs in need of some left-handed relief depth could consider him to be worth a look.
- Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports tweets that 29-year-old Cuban infielder Ramon Lunar has been declared a free agent by Major League Baseball. Lunar, who has played primarily first base since 2011 but also was originally a third baseman and has some limited experience in left field, is currently playing with Los Tigres de Quintana Roo in the Mexican League. He’s a career .313/.414/.489 hitter in parts of seven seasons in Cuba’s Serie Nacional, and he’s collected 10 plate appearances in Mexico thus far in 2016. Lunar has been absent from rankings of the top Cuban free agents on lists published by the likes of Baseball America and MLB.com, though as a player in his prime years that has shown a bit of pop, he could certainly garner some interest from big league clubs. Lunar is exempt from international bonus pools.
- The Twins have had top international scout Fred Guerrero watching Cuban free agent Jose Miguel Fernandez in the past two days, tweets Darren Wolfson of 1500 ESPN. Fernandez, a second baseman/third baseman known for minimal strikeout rates and strong on-base skills, is considered one of the top Cuban players on the market and is believed capable of stepping into a big league lineup in the very near future. It’s not clear how he’d fit with the Twins, so perhaps Minnesota is merely performing due diligence. It should be noted, too, that Fernandez hosted a showcase for clubs from May 2-3, and Wolfson notes that there were “many” scouts in attendance for the 28-year-old’s audition. Fernandez, like Lunar, is exempt from international bonus pools due to his age and the extent of his pro experience in Cuba.
So I take it that Jose Miguel Fernandez isn’t very good if the big talk is that the Twins have interest?
They say he doesn’t strike out much. He wouldn’t fit in on the Twins roster.
Timmy boy….. Back with our Giants……!!!!
It took me a while to come around to the idea but at this point anyone is better than Peavy.
Cain is better than Peavy?
Cain is better than Peavy. At least his stuff is better even if the results aren’t. Peavy looks like a guy that has just lost it, while Cain looks like he still might put it together, and be somewhat productive. Peavy’s velocity is down to 88.7, while Cain’s is still decent at 90.6.
The Blue Jays should be looking at Beimel. There bullpen has been dreadful & their go-to lefty Brett Cecil has especially been bad. Beimel can’t do any worse
The Blue Jays should be in on Fernandez. Rogers staff keep trying to sell everyone on Devon Travis as some sort of all-star based on 60 games of MLB experience. Goins belongs as a backup and who knows if Travis is going to amount to anything?
But I do agree that the Jays need bullpen help. Badly.
Shocked the Yankees aren’t looking. Though they need a reboot and not spend. I know it’s un Yankee like to accept a losing season but so much money is coming off the books this year. And even more when A Rod retires. The Mets like most of the league has transitioned into youth and a few big $ names. The days of buying everyone up is not cost effective or making you win as we have seen in recent years.
I doubt he’s cost prohibitive. He certainly isn’t going to command some massive contract, he’ll be lucky to get a guaranteed roster spot. Evidently, they are content with their internal options, or they feel that he won’t want to pitch in the AL East at Yankee Stadium
Lincecum needs to end up in Pittsburgh, imagine what Ray Searage can do with him…
Lincecum’s mechanics are so unique, the only “coach” who is qualified to keep him on track is his father.
The A’s to me seem to be the best fit. With Bassitt going down for the year, they seem to be a good fit. There’s no guarantee that Manaea is completely ready, and Alvarez hasn’t pitched in over a calendar year, so they could use some help at the back end of the rotation, even if just to ensure that Eric Surkamp stays in AAA. Plus, it’s a good ballpark to pitch in, and Lincecum’s a West Coast guy who’s spent his career in the Bay Area
Lincecum to the White Sox is the best fit.
Nobody has watched him pitch yet. He may be a good fit for the Braves. I hope I’m wrong because he was fun to watch pitch when he was in Cy Young form. Someone may get a steal.